Disposable cup which may be used as packing material and manufacturing method of the same

ABSTRACT

A disposable cup which may be used as a packing material and a manufacturing method of the same are disclosed, in which a disposable cup includes an outer cup made of a relatively thick material like a paper used for manufacturing a common paper cup and having a circular or oval shaped press part at one side or both sides of the same and being used as a packing material keeping a flat shape at usual time, and a cylindrical inner cup which has a waterproof function and is formed in an envelope shape made of a PVC film material which is non-harmful to a human body, so that the disposable cup can be used as a packing material containing a certain stuff such as a mixed coffee bag, a red tea bag (and/or straw) or something in an inner side of the inner cup.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material and a manufacturing method of the same, and in particular to a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material and a manufacturing method of the same in which a disposable cup includes an outer cup made of a relatively thick material like a paper used for manufacturing a common paper cup and having a circular or oval shaped press part at one side or both sides of the same and being used as a packing material keeping a flat shape at usual time, and an inner cup which has a waterproof function and is formed in an envelope shape made of a PVC film material which is non-harmful to a human body, so that the disposable cup can be used as a packing material containing a certain stuff such as a mixed coffee bag, a red tea bag (and/or straw) or something in an inner side of the inner cup. So, the disposable cup according to the present invention can be used as a packing material at usual time for storing a certain stuff such as a mixed coffee bag, a tea bag or something, and can be used as an ordinary cup in a circular cup shape which is formed as an outer cup is unfolded as a press part formed at one side or both sides of the outer cup is pressed after opening a sealed part of an upper side of the cup in a state that the disposable cup is held by a user. So, a user can input hot or cold water into an inner cup made of a waterproof material, and can add coffee or tea bag for soaking out its stuff in hot or cold water

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, various drinkable beverages including tea and mixed coffee are made for instant use in a tea bag shape or a mixed coffee bag shape. In order to drink the above instant type beverage, a tea bag is inserted into a cup or a disposable cup, and then hot or cold water is added thereto for soaking out its solid stuff.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

It is needed to prepare a tea bag product as well as an additional container or a disposable cup, so it is not easy to use an instant beverage while being in an outdoor place or while moving.

In case of a vending machine such as a coffee vending machine, since a certain container for storing coffee, sugar, cream or something, and a water supply container and a container for supplying cups are separately needed, the construction of a vending machine is complicated, and a compact size vending machine cannot be made.

Technical Solution

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material and a manufacturing method of the same in which an outer cup is made of a relatively thick material for the uses of a cup and a packing material. At usual time, an outer cup is folded in a flat shape and is used as a packing material. An inner cup is made of a non-harmful flexible PVC film material in an envelope shape and is disposed in the interior of the inner cup.

A tea bag is stored in a disposable cup with a significantly decreased volume as compared to an ordinary cup or a disposable cup, so that it is very easy to carry or store the same.

When a user wants to drink something, it is needed to open a sealed part of an upper side of a cup and to press the press part formed at one side or both sides of the outer cup for making a cup shape. And then inputted a certain stuff such as a mixed coffee or a tea bag into an inner and added the water for soaking out it in the water, so that a user can savor a coffee or tea.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for manufacturing a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material which comprises a step in which a certain sheet is cut in a rectangular shape; a step in which at least two folding lines are formed in the cut sheet in upper and lower directions, and a press part is prepared by forming a bending line having a circular shape or an oval shape along at least one folding line; a step in which the sheet is folded along the folding lines, and the both ends of the sheet are closely contacted with each other or are overlapped with each other and are bonded together; and a step in which the inner cup having a waterproof function and being formed in a flexible envelope shape is inserted into the interior of the outer cup, and the inner cup is attached into the interior of the outer cup.

Advantageous Effects

Since a disposable cup, which can be used as a packing material, keeps a flat shape when it is not used, so it is easy to carry or store the same. Since it is easy for carry cups along with tea bags, the user can easily make an instant beverage whenever there is water in an outdoor place or while moving.

The disposable cup according to the present invention can be repeatedly used by simply washing the inner side of the cup.

In case of a vending machine, since it is needed to equip only a container for storing and dispensing a disposable cup, which can be used as a packing material, and a container for storing water in a vending machine, it should be appreciated that the construction of a vending machine can be simple, and the entire volume of the vending machine can be made smaller, and a manufacturing unit cost can be saved, and the number of the vending machines can be increased by the vending machine business man.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an outer cup according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inner cup and an outer cup according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state that an outer cup is unfolded by pressing a press part for using a disposable cup according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an outer cup according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inner cup and an outer cup according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state that an outer cup is unfolded by pressing a press part for using a disposable cup according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an outer cup of a disposable cup according to the present invention is made in such a manner that a paper or synthetic resin sheet is cut in a rectangular shape corresponding to a size of an ordinary disposable cup.

In the conventional art, a paper cup is made of a tablet paper which does not get wet by water. However, since the inner cup made of a waterproof material is provided, it should be appreciated that a certain material such as paper or a synthetic resin having a certain strength enough for keeping a cup shape can be used, not using an expensive waterproof paper.

In addition, it is not needed to roll an upper side end of a paper cup like a conventional paper cup, so a curling process is not needed in the present invention. The disposable cup according to the present invention is much more economical as compared to the conventional art, and the manufacturing process is simple.

The sheet is cut for manufacturing an outer cup in the above-described manner, and two folding lines 110 and 120 are formed in the material of the outer cup. Here, the folding lines 110 and 120 are made by using a press machine or are made with the help of a dot-line formation method for an easier folding process.

The folding lines 110 and 120 are formed at the same distance from a right center C of the material, and the distances from the folding lines 110 and 120 to the both ends 130 and 140 of the material are the same as the distance from the right center C to the folding lines 110 and 120 or are slightly longer than the same.

With the above constructions, the both ends 130 and 140 of the material are bonded with each other for thereby manufacturing an outer cup 100.

Bending lines 150 and 160 are formed on the folding lines 110 and 120 in a circular or oval shape symmetrically in left and right directions with respect to the centers of the folding lines 110 and 120, respectively, so that press parts 170 and 180 are formed.

Here, the press parts 170 and 180 are preferably formed on two folding lines 110 and 120, but may be formed on one between the two folding lines 110 and 120 if needed. The folding lines 110 and 120 are folded, and the both ends 130 and 140 of the outer cup 100 are closely contacted or overlapped with each other and are bonded with each other for thereby manufacturing the outer cup 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the finished outer cup 100 is formed in a flat shape.

The envelope-shaped inner cup 200 is manufactured by using a PVC film which has a waterproof function and is not harmful to a human body.

The lower side of the inner cup 200 is sealed, so water or similar stuff does not leak through its lower side.

The inner cup 200 is inserted into the interior of the outer cup 100, and the inner side of the outer cup 100 and the outer side of the outer cup 200 are bonded with each other using a non-harmful adhesive or a ultra sonic bonding method, so that the outer cup 100 and the inner cup 200 are stably bonded for thereby manufacturing a disposable cup according to the present invention.

If needed, a certain stuff like a mixed coffee bag or a tea bag (including a straw, a stick or something) can be inputted into the inner cup 200, and the upper side of the outer cup 100 is sealed or the above element may be partially exposed from an upper side of the outer cup 100 of the inner cup 200, and the exposed portion is sealed, so the stuff is not escaped to the outside. With the above construction, it should be appreciated that a certain foreign substance is not inputted into the interior of the inner cup 200.

Cutting lines 190 and 210 may be formed along the sealed part of the outer cup 100 or the inner cup 200, so that a user can easily use the disposable cup according to the present invention by opening along the cutting lines 190 and 210.

When a user wants to drink an instant beverage of the disposable cup, the user cuts along the cutting lines 190 and 210 for opening the sealed upper side, and the user presses the press parts 170 and 180 while holding their both sides with the user's hand, and the press parts 170 and 180 are inwardly concaved for thereby forming a cup shape in the interior of the outer cup 100, so that a circular cup as shown in FIG. 3 is manufactured.

When using the cup, the inwardly bent press parts 170 and 180 support the unfolded states of the cup, so that the cup can remain in a cup shape.

The inner cup 200 attached to the inner side of the outer cup 100 is widened while forming a space part in the inner side of the inner cup 200, so that a certain beverage is inputted into the space part.

Since the inner cup 200 does not get wet by means of liquid, the inner cup can be repeatedly used by washing the inner cup 200 after it is used.

Accordingly, the method for manufacturing a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material is accomplished through the following steps:

a step in which a certain sheet is cut in a rectangular shape; a step in which at least two folding lines 110 and 120 are formed in the cut sheet in upper and lower directions, and a press part 170(and/or 180) is prepared by forming a bending line 150(and/or 160) having a circular shape or an oval shape along at least one folding line 110(and/or 120); a step in which the sheet is folded along the folding lines 110 and 120, and the both ends 130 and 140 of the sheet are closely contacted with each other or are overlapped with each other and are bonded together; and a step in which the inner cup 200 having a waterproof function and being formed in a flexible envelope shape is inserted into the interior of the outer cup 100, and the inner cup 200 is attached into the interior of the outer cup 100.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in the present invention, since a disposable cup, which can be used as a packing material, keeps a flat shape when it is not used, so it is easy to carry or store the same. Since it is easy for carry cups along with tea bags, the user can easily make an instant beverage whenever there is water in an outdoor place or while moving.

The disposable cup according to the present invention can be repeatedly used by simply washing the inner side of the cup.

In case of a vending machine, since it is needed to equip only a container for storing and dispensing a disposable cup, which can be used as a packing material, and a container for storing water in a vending machine, it should be appreciated that the construction of a vending machine can be simple, and the entire volume of the vending machine can be made smaller, and a manufacturing unit cost can be saved, and the number of the vending machines can be increased by the vending machine business man.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

1. A disposable cup which may be used as a packing material, comprising: an outer cup which is constructed in such a manner that at least two folding lines are formed in a certain sheet, and a press part is formed in a circular shape or an oval shape symmetrically in left and right directions with respect to at least one folding line, and the both ends of the sheet folded along the folding line are closely contacted or overlapped and bonded with each other; and an inner cup which has a waterproof function and is formed in an envelope shape with its lower side being sealed, whereby the inner cup is inserted into the interior of the outer cup and is bonded to the outer cup.
 2. The cup of claim 1, wherein an upper side of said outer cup or said inner cup is sealed, and a cutting line is formed along a portion below the sealed portion.
 3. The cup of claim 1, wherein a mixed coffee bag or a tea bag is inserted into the interior of the inner cup.
 4. A method for manufacturing a disposable cup which may be used as a packing material, comprising: a step in which a certain sheet is cut in a rectangular shape; a step in which at least two folding lines are formed in the cut sheet in upper and lower directions, and a press part is prepared by forming a bending line having a circular shape or an oval shape along at least one folding line; a step in which the sheet is folded along the folding lines, and the both ends of the sheet are closely contacted with each other or are overlapped with each other and are bonded together; and a step in which the inner cup having a waterproof function and being formed in a flexible envelope shape is inserted into the interior of the outer cup, and the inner cup is attached into the interior of the outer cup.
 5. The cup of claim 4, further comprising a step in which an upper side of the outer cup or an upper side of the inner cup is sealed, and a cutting line is formed therein.
 6. The cup of claim 5, further comprising a step in which a certain stuff is inserted into the inner cup before the cutting line is formed in the outer cup or the inner cup. 